THE KNOCKS TEAM UP WITH PERFUME GENIUS FOR REIMAGINED VERSION OF BRONSKI BEAT’S ‘SMALLTOWN BOY’
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40TH ANNIVERSARY OF BRONSKI BEAT’S THE AGE OF CONSENT DUE OCTOBER 18TH VIA LONDON RECORDS
Today, London Records present a new version of the Bronski Beat classic, ‘Smalltown Boy’, produced by New York based dance luminaries The Knocks and featuring a perfectly nuanced vocal take from Mike Hadreas aka Perfume Genius.
This new 2024 version is very much a collaborative effort between all parties involved. The Knocks, well known for their spirited and imaginative collaborations, have revisited the original ‘Smalltown Boy’ master tapes, adding layers of warm electronics and thoughtful builds onto the track’s original synth lines, and enlisting new vocals from Perfume Genius, dovetailing perfectly with elements of Jimmy Somerville’s original vocal.
The result is a driven update that is danceable, emotional and uplifting in equal parts.
“We wanted to really keep it close to the original but just give it a little more of a modern dance floor feel,” explains Ben Ruttner from The Knocks. “Perfume Genius already brings such a cool new element to it, so we just wanted to support his voice as much as possible while giving it a little bit of The Knocks dance pop touch. That main synth sound is so iconic so we wanted that to be the main star of the show, still.”
Mike (Perfume Genius) adds: “When you’re trying to sing an iconic song, you want to make sure that you can do it justice and then also add your own information without fucking with it too much, you know? So it’s a tall order but I was really, really excited.”
Bronski Beat’s Jimmy Somerville says of the new version: ‘It’s like a beautiful echo coming back after travelling a long and eventful distance.’
The new version arrives at what has been a staggering year for ‘Smalltown Boy’. First released in 1984, Bronski Beat’s debut single took a personal, heartfelt story and with it created a worldwide smash. Earlier this year an #80sDanceTrend on TikTok showcased ‘Smalltown Boy’ to millions of new fans, reaching over 4 billion views, amassing more than a quarter of a million TikTok creations, returning the track to the UK Top 100, where it has remained in the charts again all across this Summer.
‘Smalltown Boy’ is an enduring anthem for all marginalized individuals and LGBTQI+ communities around the world. Following this year’s UK general election and with the upcoming US election, with Trans rights being used as a political football. ‘Smalltown Boy’s messages of hope, community and resilience remain as salient as ever.
“I think the song definitely carries meaning in 2024,” adds JPatt of The Knocks. “That’s part of the reason we are doing the rework. The song itself is amazing, but the meaning behind it is what makes it a timeless classic. Even with all the strides the LGBTQI+ community has made in the past 40 years, there are tons of queer folk living in small towns that don’t feel seen or supported within those communities. As long as that still exists, this song will always be relevant.”
As to the song’s message of hope Mike adds: “I think I always have hope, and I think my experience is that all of my friends in the community do, too. We’re good at it. In the face of whatever. In the face of nothing. In the face of a lot. We’re good at having hope, and we’re good at building it up and finding where it is.”
The Knocks and Perfume Genius’s version of ‘Smalltown Boy’ also appears on the upcoming 2CD and digital re-issue of their debut album The Age of Consent, also celebrating its 40th-anniversary this year. Other formats include a 5-Disc Deluxe Edition (4CD+DVD): featuring 4 essays by Tom Rasmussen, Lesley Chow, Lucy Robinson, and Barney Ashton-Bullock, the original album, bonus tracks, remixes, rarities, early versions, and rare radio sessions.
Pre-order The Age of Consent here
About The Knocks
The Knocks, the prolific GRAMMY-nominated and multi-platinum selling dance music luminaries deliver a carefree electronic sound that draws from soul, funk, disco, hip hop, house, and pop. Composed of James Patterson and Ben Ruttner, the duo produce a dizzying array of danceable New York inspired music, bringing their sold out headline DJ sets and live electronic performances all over the world.
Known for their collaborative prowess, The Knocks have worked with artists across the musical spectrum, from indie [Foster The People, MGMT, Cold War Kids], hiphop [Wyclef, Big Boi, Method Man], dance [Purple Disco Machine, ODESZA, Kungs], and pop [Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Carly Rae Jepsen]. In addition, they founded the GRAMMY nominated indie record label HeavyRoc Music/Black Clay [Blu DeTiger, Sofi Tukker, St. Lucia].
About Perfume Genius
Perfume Genius is the moniker of artist Mike Hadreas. Hadreas grew up in Seattle, WA and started his music career in 2008. He released his debut album Learning in 2010 via long-time label home Matador, and it instantly caught the attention of critics. Hadreas’ unique ability to convey emotional vulnerability not only lyrically, but with his impressively nuanced vocals. Ongoing themes throughout his work explores and subverts concepts of masculinity and traditional roles, and introduces decidedly American musical influences.
His most recent album, the critically lauded Set My Heart On Fire Immediately (2020) featured contributions from musicians Phoebe Bridgers, Jim Keltner, Pino Palladino, Matt Chamberlain and Rob Moose with longtime partner and musical collaborator Alan Wyffels.
Alongside The Knocks, other collaborations include Christine And The Queens, Sharon Van Etten, Weyes Blood, Cate Le Bon, Anna Calvi, King Princess and more. His albums have been nominated for a GRAMMY Award and a GLAAD Media Award and have topped numerous Decade-end lists including Billboard’s, Pitchfork’s, Crack’s, Paste’s and more.
About Bronski Beat
Few groups in pop’s history have spoken as directly or as powerfully about the experiences and struggles of being gay in 1980s Britain as Bronski Beat. Their 1984 hit ‘Smalltown Boy’ remains one of the most hauntingly evocative songs about the constant battle of growing up in a community hostile to homosexuality and the desire to find refuge.
Keyboardists Steve Bronski, Larry Steinbackek and singer Jimmy Somerville formed the group in 1983 when they were sharing a flat in Brixton, South London. The musical alchemy between the three was instant and they were signed to London Records after only playing nine gigs, with debut single, ‘Smalltown Boy’, going to number three in the UK singles chart a matter of months later.
Somerville was an outspoken political pop star and his remarkable falsetto provided the dazzling centrepiece of the band’s debut album, 1984’s The Age Of Consent. Balancing dance floor-ready synth pop with a darker, more serious mood suited to its lyrical concerns, if any fans were in doubt of the album’s message, its inner sleeve listed the age of consent for homosexuals in different countries across the world.
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My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
